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Nº21 was founded in 2010 by Alessandro Dell’Acqua, who also serves as the creative director at the fashion house Rochas. Alessadro uses his eye for modern design to create unique and eye-catching pieces designed for fashionable women. The sandals below are a great example of how the designer stretches the boundaries of modern design to create truly remarkable pieces that are more like a work of art than simply a pair of shoes.

When Stella McCartney first debuted her platform brogues at her Autumn/Winter 2014 runway show, my reaction was a little bit like this guy:

But after enough time had passed and I started seeing them on every celebrity and street starlet everywhere, I became accustomed to them like every other bizarre fashion trend (hello, Fendi furry buggies!), and began to love them (or at least let go of judgment…) in their own quirky way that I may never fully understand myself.

On that note, I bring to you Stella McCartney’s cotton-canvas brogues from the Spring ’16 runway show. They are printed with two of the key patterns from the collection- red & white checks and black & marigold stripes, adorned with the signature wooden sole. Pair them with layers upon layers of denim and a pair of shades, or with this Stella McCartney maxi dress for the ultimate Americana cool-girl effect. Bonus points if you can get your hands on a Fendi buggy FTW.

Capes were all over the Fall/Winter 2015 runways, and the trend easily transitioned to the Spring and Summer 2016 runway, with the introduction of cape dresses, tops, ponchos, and sleeveless vests.

There were robe-inspired capes as sleeves at Zuhair Murad; flowing, long capes as the trains of gowns at Guo Pei; sheer, floor-length capes worn separately over dresses and jumpsuits at Chanel; and capes as sleeves to the gowns at Ralph & Russo. Capes infuse the class & glamour of the 1920’s into a modern look that feels new and reinvented.

Kat Maconie is a British fashion designer who started her eponymous in 2009. She is known for her bold colors, strong prints, architectural shapes, metallic details, all infused with her signature tongue-in-cheek attitude.

With so many fun and lively designs to choose from, it’s difficult to choose a favorite, but these colorful India heels caught my eye (well, naturally…). With embroidery detailing and a bright suede chunky heel, these sandals are perfect for a sunny Spring or Summer day. Wear ’em with a white, blue, yellow, or green sundress for a perfect mix of playful and chic.

Valentiarecently reached out to me to try out a few of their products – their True Glow Eye Cream, theUltra Plumping Hydration Mask, & their Royal Rose Hydrating Serum. I happily obliged, as I’m sure you all know I am a total product junkie and LOVE trying new stuff. Plus, their beauty products are made in a cruelty-free beauty lab owned and operated by women in the USA. Their products are made using sustainable energy, are vegan-friendly, and use 98% natural ingredients.

Astaxanthin: The reigning King of the antioxidants – please take a bow – this little guy has 600 times more antioxidant power than Vitamin C, increases skin moisture, smoothes fine lines , and restores elasticity to the skin.

Resistem: or “Natures Miracles” as we like to call them. These plant stem cells work to repair damaged skin cells and protect the skin from stress related aging, leaving skin refreshed and renewed!

Organic Rosehip Oil: Dry and flaky under eyes be gone! Rosehip oil amps up skins moisture content, delivering deep nourishment and reducing the appearance of fine lines that can creep in when we’re a bit dry under the eye.

Arnica: This botanical herb has been widely used in homeopathic medicine for bruising and soreness which is why we chose it for our True Glow Eye Cream. It stimulates white blood cells to relieve dark circles and puffiness.

After using this product for about 5 weeks, there were noticeable results in my under eye area. I received numerous compliments about how fresh faced I looked (even on those days where I tossed and turned for hours the night before). Fine lines and dark circles were noticeably diminished, and my under eye area truly looked plumper.

I would recommend this product to anyone looking to fix their dark under eye circles and as an anti-aging tool to diminish fine lines and wrinkles, along with plumping the under eye area.

After trying out this serum for 5 weeks in addition to the eye cream, I noticed my skin seemed more hydrated and brighter. Immediately, my skin looked and felt softer. The verdict? Highly recommend to anyone looking to smooth, nourish, and moisturize their skin.

What are your favorite skin products? Have you tried anything new lately?

Spring is here, and there’s no better time to welcome it than by eliminating all of the unnecessary clutter in your life. Check out these easy tips for organizing your closet (which is recommended as the first place to start when cleaning out your home), divided into 5 tried-and-true steps. I’ve recently been inspired by Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up”, and man, does it feel goodto part ways with things that are not *sparking joy* (read that decluttering bible– see for yourself). Enjoy!

Are you planning on doing spring cleaning, or do you have any tips to add on? Share in the comments section below!

Bright colors and whimsical designs that tug on our heartstrings make those of us in the northern hemisphere yearn for the lazy summer days and carefree nights. The design duo behind the Peter Pilotto label, made of Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos, capture this feeling beautifully in their new footwear offering, composed of vibrant hues and groovy (yep, groovy has been called) patterns. Check out these blue and yellow leather and suede sandals below that are both playful and flirty. Wear ’em with a loose-fitting, super short sundress to show off your stems whether on a resort getaway or in the heat of the summer.

French designer Pierre Hardy is known for making statement shoes with a unique and modern touch. His shoes are anything but boring, as evident with his giant eye shoes and futuristic, sculptural shoes. This pair of boat shoes are emblazoned with a detachable colorful shoelace motif, which naturally raises the cute factor by 110%. Wear ’em with cropped, white skinny jeans or with a loose-fitting midi skirt for a chic and unique look. And simply detach the motif for a more professional style.

Pierre Hardy, $595

What do you think of these funky shoes? How would you choose to style them?

While I agree with the latter, and agree that it’s better to be overdressed than underdressed, I also do believe it is the best to be dressed for the occasion.

What’s the difference between casual, smart casual, and business casual? It is a tricky line, and you don’t want to be the one whose outfit is grabbing the attention for unwanted reasons. Check out this handy guide for both him & her and you’ll always be right on point.

What are your essential tips for dressing formally or casually? Share your tips in the comments section below!

Oh, leather & lace, you never get old, do you? Check out these perforated white leather mules by Givenchy. With a 4 inch heel, these beauties would look amazing styled with a pair of oversized culottes or a flowing, below-the-knee A-line skirt. Personally, I love the white, as it blends perfectly with the leather and lace combo, but the boot equivalent is available in black here, if that’s more your style.

Givenchy Leather & Lace Lace-Up Mules, $995

What do you guys think of these? Will you be wearing mule sandals this spring & summer?